Balochistan govt bans public entry into Civil Secretariat

Imposes Section 144 banning gathering of over 10 people

QUETTA: Balochistan government on Saturday imposed Section 144 across the province, banning all gatherings of 10 or more people amid fear of spread of the coronavirus due to human contact.

"The Government of Balochistan has imposed a ban on gathering of 10 or more than 10 persons… with immediate effect for a period of one month,” said a notification issued by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of the Government of Balochistan.

According to the notification, there is also a ban on sit-ins and procession, rallies at public places, markets and hotels/restaurants and on wedding parties, sports gathering, cinemas, educational gatherings, conferences and seminars.

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal on Friday also issued directives to ban entry of outsiders in government departments in order to control spread of coronavirus.

According to the advisory, nobody except government employees would be allowed to enter the Civil Secretariat in Quetta. Similarly, no one will be allowed to visit prisoners in jails across the province. Only one person would be allowed to stay with a patient at hospitals.

Balochistan government’s spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said the provincial government would take strict actions against the pilgrims and traders trying to escape screening test before entering Pakistan from neighboring countries – Iran and Afghanistan – through Balochistan border.

He said around 4,400 pilgrims had come from Iran – a country worst affected by the contagious flu like disease. “The persons infected with coronavirus were kept in quarantines and isolation wards for 14 days until they were pronounced healthy,” he added.

He said border forces were directed to remain on high alert for screening of every person coming to Pakistan. Special teams are deployed to march at the borders for arresting people entering illegally.

“The groups of pilgrims and merchants who tried to escape the screening test are kept in quarantines and isolation camps and their vehicles are disinfected as well, he added.

However, pilgrims who had been released from quarantine at Taftan border a day earlier staged a protest after authorities placed them in another quarantine centre set up to Mian Ghandi area.

A large number of pilgrims sneaked through the main gate of the quarantine centre and blocked the National Highway. The protestors wanted to move towards the city but the security forces intervened and stopped them from moving further.

"We have completed the quarantine period, let us go homes," a protester demanded.

The authorities later held talks with pilgrims and after three hours, as they ended the sit-in and returned to centre. The administration assured the pilgrims of quick final testing before allowing them to go to their homes.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, 199 people entered Pakistan from Iran, while 81 drivers and a passenger crossed into Iran through the gate on Saturday

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials said the number of pilgrims, traders and students in Quarantine centres set up in Taftan was 2,500.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2020.